LETTERS 

ADDRESSED  TO 

DE  WITT  CLINTON",  Esq. 

MAYOR  OF  THE  CITY  OF  NEW-YORK". 

BY  MARCUS. 

TAKEN  FROM  THE  POUGHKEEPSIE  BAROMETER. 


SIR, 

Unaccustomed  to  the  mtpmm  of  panegyric,  I 

offer  no  apology  for  the  abruptness  of  this  Address.  A 
Republican  from  education,  from  habit,  and  from  principle, 
I  disdain  the  courtier. 

The  period,  sir,  is  rapidly  approaching,  when  the  influ- 
ence of  truth  will  divest  you  of  the  ill-born  honours  which 
have  enshrouded  your  brow.  The  reign  of  proscription 
will  soon  subside,  and,  it  is  to  be  hoped,  will  b3  succeeded 
bv  tolerance  and  forbearance,  it  is,  however,  both  neces- 
sarv  and  proper  that  you  and  your  immediate  satellites 
should  be  stripped  of  the  emoluments  of  office.  The  pub- 
lic welfare  and  the  voice  of  the  people  imperioush  demand 
it.  The  evil  forebodings  of  a  guiitv  mind  must  long  since 
have  suggested  it  to  you.  Nor  will  you,  in  the  calm  and 
dispassionate  moments  of  reflection,  condemn  this  sentence 
as  harsh.  You  will  acknowledge  its  justice,  and  in  the 
language  of  the  sacred  volume,  exclaim,  u  The  arrows  of 
"  the  Almighty  are  within  me,  the  poison  whereof  drinketh 
u  up  my  spirit ;  the  terrors  of  God  do  set  themselves  in  ar- 
u  ray  against  me." 

You  have  had  the  power  of  dispensing  favours,  almost 
without  limitation  :  and  vou  have  executed  that  trust  in  such 
a  manner  as  to  excite  the  disgust  and  contempt  of  all  mode- 
rate and  disinterested  men.  The  venerable  patriot,  and  the 
war-worn  soldier  of  ourcountrv,  have  been  impiously  thrust 
from  petty  posts,  to  satisfy  the  cravings  of  idle  and  fawning 
sycophants.  You  are  encircled  by  a  mercenary  band,  who, 
while  thev  offer  adulation  to  vour  svstem  of  terror,  are  rea- 

-  J  7 


% 

ciy,  at  the  first  favourable  moment,  to  betray  and  desert  you* 
A  portion  of  them  are  needy  young  men,  who,  without  ma- 
turely investigating  the  consequences,  have  sacrificed  prin- 
ciple to  self-aggrandizement.  Others  are  mere  parasites, 
that  well  know  the  tenure  on  which  they  hold  their  offices* 
and  will  ever  pay  implicit  obedience  to  those  who  adminis- 
ter to  their  wants.  Many  of  your  followers  are  among  the 
most  profligate  of  the  community.  >  They  are  the  bane  of 
social  and  domestic  happiness.  Servile  and  dependent  pan- 
ders, no  means,  however  wicked,  have  been  neglected  by 
them  to  accomplish  their  purposes,  and  to  carry  into  execu- 
tion your  mandates. 

Numerous  are  the  charges  which  have  been  exhibited 
against  you.  Some  of  them  have  doubtless  been  exagge- 
rated, and  others- have  no  foundation  in  truth.  Sufficient 
have,  however,  been  established  to  bring  upon  you  ihe  odi- 
um of  your  fellow-citizens.  It  is  not  my  design  to  repeat 
those  charges,  nor  to  load  you  with  vulgar  and  unmeaning 
,  epithets.  To  triumph  over  a  fallen  enemy  is  cruel  in  the 
extreme.  But  there  is  one  part  of  your  conduct  which  has 
excited  much  conversation,  and  is  but  very  imperfecdy  un- 
derstood. It  betrays,  however,  a  species  of  perfidy  and 
falsehood  repugnant  to  the  feelings  of  a  man  of  honour,  and 
too  undignified  for  the  most  grovelling  wretch  that  receives  the 
patronage,  or  boasts  the  confidence,  of  even  De  Witt  Clinton. 

The  subject  to  which  I  allude,  is  the  union,  as  it  has  been 
facetiously  termed.  And  although  I  shall  be  brief,  yet  I 
shall  convince  you  and  your  associates  that  I  am  no  stranger 
to  the  details  connected  with  that  transaction.  How  I  came 
to  the  possession  of  them,  is  not  material  to  you,  and  is  un- 
important to  the  public.  The  tale  shall  be  a  plain  unvar- 
nished one,  carrying  on  the  face  of  it  proofs  of  its  accura- 
cy. My  next  number  shall  be  devoted  to  this  subject,  and 
in  the  presence  of  God  and  my  country,  I  pledge  myself  to 
establish  vour  duplicity  and  your  perfidy. 

MARCUS. 

N°.  II. 

'  TO  DE  WITT  CLINTON, 

SIR, 

IN  the  presence  of  God  and  my  country,  I  am  ;  Vdged 
to  establish  your  duplicity  and  your  perfidy-  But  it  wiii  be 
first  necessary  to  prove,  beyond  the  possibility  of  doubt, 


3 


that  Gen.  Bailey,  in  the  negociations  on  the  subject  of  a 
Union  between  the  Burrites  and  Clintonians,  was  your  au- 
thorized agent ;  acting  under  your  instructions  ;  and  with 
your  knowledge  and  approbation,  compromising  the  party 
of  which  you  are  considered  the  chieftain.  This,  sir,  shall 
be  done  :  It  shall  be  done  in  such  a  manner  as  to  leave  no 
place  of  refuge  for  the  most  sceptical  of  your  sycophantic 
followers.  And  I  now  solicit  the  attention  of  the  honest 
and  independent  of  every  party,  while  I  proceed  to  unveil 
a  transaction,  which,  for  political  treachery  and  baseness, 
could  have  no  equal,  but  in  the  history  of  a  tyrant  that,  with 
wild  and  extravagant  ideas,  would  attempt  to  prostrate  our 
constitution,  and  destroy  the  liberty  of  the  citizens,  that  on 
their  ruins  he  might  be  elevated  to  official  dignity  and  ho-* 
nour. 

About  the  24th  of  December,  1805,  Mr.  Levi  M4Keen, 
of  Poughkeepsie,  arrived  in  the  City  of  New- York,  and 
shortly  after  called  on  different  gentlemen  among  his  political 
friends,  stating  to  them  that  overtures  had  been  made  by  the 
Clintonians,  to  form  an  union  with  the  Burrites,  and  his 
opinion  that  the  plan  was  feasible.  He  added,  that  he  had 
conversed  with  Gen.  Bailey  on  the  subject,  and  was  desirous 
that  Col.  Swartw  out  should  consent  to  an  interview  for  the 
same  purpose.  Mr.  M4Keen  was  informed  that  there  were 
numerous  and  almost  insurmountable  obstacles  to  such  a 
measure,  inasmuch  as  the  friends  of  Col.  Burr  could  never 
place  confidence  in  the  engagements  of  De  Witt  Clinton,  un- 
til he  should  h/yv.e  done  some  act,  indicative  ot  his  sincerity. 

It  was  then  suggested,  that  as  Mr.  Clinton  had  not  the 
power  of  giving  o.Tices  at  that  moment,  and  thus  publicly  com- 
mitting himself,  he  should  give  to  the  friends  of  Col.  Burr, 
pecuniary  aid,  through  the  medium  of  the  Manhattan  Bank, 
of  which  he  was  a  Director  :  and  from  which  Bank  they 
were  almost  totally  excluded,  by  a  system  of  intolerance  and 
persecution. 

This  point,  after  two  or  three  days'  discussion,  was  con- 
ceded as  reasonable  and  proper.  Hitherto  Mr.  M'Keenand 
Gen.  Bailey  were  the  only  agents  ;  but  the  affair  assuming  a 
more  important  aspect,  it  became  necessary  that  some  per- 
son residing  in  the  city  of  New- York,  known  to  be  friendly 
to  Col.  Burr,  should  undertake  the  arrangement ;  and  Col. 
Swartwout  was  selected.  It  was, however, determined,  that 
no  movement  should  be  made,  on  the  part  of  the  Burrites, 
but  by  solicitation. 


On  the  5th  of  January,  M'Keen  left  the  City  of  New-York7 
and  on  the  7th  Mr*  Swartwout  received  from  Gen.  Bailey  a 
written  note,  inviting  him  to  spend  an  hour  with  him  that 
evening,  which  invitation  was  accepted.  After  some  de- 
sultory conversation,  the  plan  of  terminating  the  division  be- 
tween the  Burrites  and  the  Clintonians  was  introduced  by 
Gen.  Bailey.  Mr.  Swartwout  immediately  inquired  whe- 
ther he  was  authorized  by  the  Mayor,  or  merely  spoke  as 
Gen.  Bailey  in  his  private  capacity.  The  General  replied, 
that  he  was  authorized  by  Mr.  Clinton.  They  then  pro- 
ceeded to  the  discussion  of  the  subject  j  and  their  interview 
lasted  about  four  hours.  Mr.  Swartwout  remarked,  how- 
ever, as  a  preliminary  to  the  discussion,  that  the  friends  of 
Col.  Burr  retained  their  respect  and  esteem  for  that  gentle- 
man ;  that  his  friends  were  their  friends,  and  his  enemies 
their  enemies. 

From  this  day  until  the  11th  of  January,  the  interviews 
between  Gen.  Bailey  and  Col.  Swartwout  were  almost  daily. 
At  some  of  their  meetings  R.  Riker  was  present  j  at  others, 
Pierre  C.  Van  Wyck.  During'the  whole  negociation,  how- 
ever, Mr.  Clinton  never  consulted  any  person  or  persons,  i£ 
is  believed,  but  those  above  named. 

The  character  of  Richard  Riker  is  well  known.  His  in- 
stability as  a  politician  is  notorious.  In  1798  he  wTas  conspi- 
cuous as  a  federalist,  and  in  the  public  market  triumphed  at 
the  success  of  the  federal  ticket  in  the  City  of  New- York. 
To  De  Witt  Clinton,  since  his  appointment  to  office,  he  is  as 
the  pilot-fish  to  the  shark, 

P.  C.  Van  Wyck  is  a  young  man,  unacquainted  with  the 
political  concerns  of  the  state,  and  consequently  a  very  in- 
competent judge  of  measures  of  policy. 

Here,  Sir,  permit  me  to  ask  the  question,  are  you  capa- 
ble of  offering  a  greater  insult  to  the  old  and  respectable 
members  of  the  republican  party,  than  you  did,  in  thus  se- 
lecting as  counsellors  and  advisers,  two  young  men,  to  the 
exclusion  of  all  those  who  had  contributed  to  elevate  you  to 
the  dignified  station  you  now  hold  ?  Was  there  not  one  mart 
among  that  party,  of  years  and  experience,  worthy  your 
confidence  ? 

On  the  ltth  of  January  the  negociation  was  finally  con- 
cluded. The  terms  and  conditions  of  it  shall  be  the  subject 
of  my  next  number.  Let  me  again  request  the  public  to 
bear  in  mind  the  solemn  and  sacred  pledge  I  have  made. 

MARCUS. 


5 


N°.  III. 

TO  BE  WITT  CLINTON,  ES%. 

am, 

ON  the  11th  of  January,  as  you  well  know,  the  terms  of  an 
union  of  Burrism  and  Clintonianism,  was  concluded,  and 
they  were  as  follows : 

Firstly — That  Col.  Burr  should  be  recognized  by  the  un- 
ion party,  as  a  republican. 

Secondly — That  the  Editor  of  the  American  Citizen  should 
desist  from  all  attacks  upon  him  or  his  friends  ;  that  he  should 
advocate  the  union,  if  it  became  necessary,  in  his  paper  ;  and 
that  he  should  not  defend  the  Burrites  as  returning  to  repub- 
lican principles,  they  persisting  that  they  never  had  abandon- 
ed them. 

Thirdly — That  the  friends  of  Col.  Burr,  as  it  respected  ap- 
pointments to  offices  of  honour  or  profit  throughout  the  state, 
should  be  placed  on  the  same  footing  as  the  most  favoured 
Clintonians ;  and  that  their  Burrism  should  never  be  urged 
as  an  objection  to  their  filling  those  offices. 

Fourthly — That  at  the  approaching  election  in  April,  the 
Burrites  should  have  a  portion  of  at  least  one  third  of  the 
Representatives  of  the  City  and  County  of  New- York,  in 
the  State  Legislature. 

Fifthly — That  De  Witt  Clinton  should  see  that  they  (the 
Burrites)  were  accommodated  to  any  reasonable  amount  they 
might  require  in  the  Manhattan  Bank,  and  that  he  should 
actually  procure  for  an  individual,  in  the  course  of  the  next 
week,  an  accommodation,  in  said  bank,  of  at  least  818,000. 

Such  were  the  conditions  of  the  union,  as  concluded  on  the 
morning  of  the  11th  of  January.    Mr  Swartwout  having  re- 
ported the  result  of  his  negociations,  it  was  their  opinion  that 
Gen.  Bailey  ought  to  repeat  them  to  some  other  friend  of 
Col.  Burr.    The  General  was  noticed  of  this  circumstance, 
and  cheerfully  assented.    Accordingly,  on  the  same  day, 
about  one  o'clock,  Mr.  Mat.  L.  Davis  accompanied  Mr. 
Swartwout,  by  appointment,  to  the  house  of  Gen.  Bailey, 
where,  in  the  presence  of  those  two  gentlemen,  he  repeated 
the  above  terms  as  the  basis  of  a  reconciliation. 

On  Monday,  the  13th  January,  the  Manhattan  Bank,  in 
pursuance  of  the  above  arrangement,  discounted,  for  the 
accommodation  of  a  distinguished  Burrite,  a  note  of  Nine 


6 


Thousand  Dollars ;  and  on  Thursday,  the  16th,  another  note 
oi  Nine  1  housand  Dollars,  tor  the  accommodatin  of  the  same 
person,  making  the  Eighteen  Thousand Ddhirs,  stipulated  for 
in  the  5th  article. 

Other  friends  of  Col.  Burr  were  accommodated  with 
smaller,  but  very  considerable  sums,  who  could  not  previ- 
ously obtain  One  Cent  from  the  coffers  of  that  institution. 

Having  stated  the  facts  to  the  16th  January,  with  your 
permission,  Sir,  I  will  make  the  application.  If  Gen. 
Bailey  was  not  your  authorized  agent,  acting  with  your 
knowledge  and  approbation,  how  did  it  happen,  Sir,  that  he 
should  undertake  to  pledge  the  funds  of  the  Manhattan  Bank, 
of  which  he  was  not  a  Director,  for  the  accommodation  of 
Mr.  Burr's  friends,  to  the  amount  of  thousands  and  twenties 
of  thousands  of  dollars  ;  and  that  those  promises  and  pledg- 
es should  be  faithfully  performed  ?  How  did  it  happen,  Sir, 
that  the  Gen.  should,  on  the  11th  January,  agree  that  a  loan 
should  be  effected  by  that  bank  on  the  14th  for  $9000,  and 
another  loan  on  the  16th  for  an  equal  amount,  and  yet  not 
be  acting  under  your  authority  ?  But  it  does  not  stop  here. 
The  General  pledged  himself  that  you  should  procure  dis- 
counts for  other  friends  ot  Col.  Burr,  and  they  also  were  fur- 
nished in  various  instances,  and  it  is  believed  in  every  in- 
stance, where  applied  for  previous  to  the  rupture.  I  repeat 
it ;  let  it  be  recollected,  Gen.  Bailey  was  not  a  Director  of 
that  Bank.  He  had  no  controul  over  its  funds.  You  was 
a  Director ;  and  you  have  your  puppets  there,  that  you  move 
as  you  please.  The  conclusion  is  irresistible.  Gen.  Bailey 
must-have  acted  by  your  authority  ;  and  the  man  who  asserts 
a  contrary  position,  after  reading  this,  must  stand  convicted 
as  a  knave  or  a  fool. 

One  observation  more,  and  I  close  this  number.  If  the 
facts  which  I  have  detailed  respecting  your  directorship  are 
uniounded,  they  are  susceptible  of  refutation.  The  books 
of  that  institution  are  at  your  command.  The  Vice-Presi- 
dent of  the  Company,  James  Arden,  of  all  tools,  is  the  most 
contemptible.  Procure  his  certificate  to  the  contrary.  I 
have  stated  the  precise  days  of  the  week  and  of  the  month, 
and  it  would  require  but  very  little  labour  to  make  the  re- 
ference ;  but  this  I  know  will  never  be  done ;  for  they  are 
unanswerable  truths  which  I  have  related. 

Having  established  the  fact,  that  Gen.  Bailey  was  your 
authorized  agent,  I  proceed  to  show  your  duplicity  towards 


your  own  partv,  and  your  perfidy  towards  the  friends  of  Col- 
Burr.  Let  those  men  designated  Clintonians,  particularly 
in  the  City  of  New-York,  carefully  peruse  my  next  publica- 
tion, and  if  they  retain  one  atom  of  laudable  pride  ;  one  ray 
of  self-importance ;  if  they  are  not  sunk  and  debased  be- 
neath the  native  dignity  of  man,  they  will  spurn  your  future 
confidence,  and  no  longer  remain  the  miserable  automatons 
of  a  treacherous  chief. 

MARCUS. 

N°.  IV. 

TO  DE  WITT  CLINTON,  ESQ. 

SIR, 

ON  the  11th  Janurary,  the  negociations,  as  already  stated, 
were  terminated  ;  and  on  the  1 3th  the  conditions,  in  part, 
carried  into  operation,  by  discounts  in  the  Manhattan  Bank. 
Mr.  Clinton  having  thus  given  a  pledge  of  his  sincerity  ;  it 
was  agreed,  that  an  interview  should  take  place  between  him 
and  Col.  Swartwout.  Thursday  evening,  the  16th,  at  six 
o'cleck,  at  the  house  of  Gen.  Bailey,  by  arrangement,  they 
met.  About  7  o'clock,  Mr.  Clinton's  counsellors  and  advis- 
ers, Riker  and  Van  Wyck,  came  into  the  room  to  express 
their  heartfelt  satisfaction  at  this  Union  of  Honest  Men.  . 
The)-  remained  about  an  hour  and  then  retired. 

It  had  been  previously  determined  that  the  leaders  of  the 
Clinton  party  should  manage  their  own  men  in  their  own 
way,  and  that  no  communication  should  be  made  by  the 
Burrites,  to  the  followers  of  Mr.  Clinton. 

I  have  now  arrived  at  a  stage  of  this  transaction,  where  your 
duplicity  shone  resplendent.  No  apologv  is  necessary  to  you 
for  stripping  the  vizard  irom  your  face  :  But  it  is  a  duty  I 
owe  to  the  community,  to  acknowledge,  that  nothing  but  the 
most  gross  perfidy  on  your  part,  couid  justify  me  in  deve- 
loping a  transaction,  which,  for  the  honour  of  human  nature, 
ought  ever  to  have  remained  in  the  most  profound  oblivion. 

Here  I  request  the  reader,  and  particularly  the  present 
representatives  from  the  City  and  County  of  New-York,  to 
pay  attention  to  dates.  They  are  important.  They  will 
serve  to  satisfy  even-  candid  and  dispassionate  man,  that  on 
great  questions  Mr.  Clinton  has  very  few  confidants,  and  they 
are  not  to  be  found  among  the  gentlemen  who  have  the 
honour  of  representing  the  metropolis  of  the  state. 

▲  4 


I 

On  the  11th,  the  union  was  concluded  ;  on  the  13th,  a 
part  of  the  conditions  were  carried  into  operation  ;  on  the 
16th,  Mr.  Clinton  and  Mr.  Swartwout  had  their  interview; 
and  yet,  on  the  17th,  there  was  not  an  individual  memher  of 
the  Legislature, Riker  excepted,  who  had  the  most  distant  sus- 
pision  of  such  an  event  having  taken  place  ;  hecause  on  that 
day,  the  17th,  and  the  next,  both  James  Warner,  and  Francis 
Cooper,  were  busily  employed  with  Riker,  in  endeavouring 
to  bring  about  this  desirable  reconciliation.  These  men 
were  honest  and  sincere  ;  but  they  will  perceive,  while  com- 
municating and  planning  with  Riker  as  to  the  best  means  to 
accomplish  the  object,  he  was  laughing  in  his  sleeve  at  their 
credulity  ;  and  triumphing  with  Van  Wyck  and  Clinton,  at 
the  facility  with  which  the  zvell-born  and  the  greats  too  fre- 
quentl\Mmpose  upon  the  weak  and  the  ignorant.  Such  must 
ever  be  the  degraded  state  of  men,  who  implicitly  follow  de- 
magogues* 

On  or  about  the  13th,  seven  days  after  the  union  had 
been  concluded,  a  dinner  was  given  by  Mr.  Clinton,  at 
which  the  members  of  the  Legisixture,  with  other  leading 
republicans,  were  present.  At  this  dinner  the  subject  of 
the  union  was  the  topic  of  conversation.  Here  it  was  that 
De  Wilt  played  his  part  with  great  adroitness.  \He  could 
scarcely  hazard  an  opinion,  as  to  the  policy  of  the  \ieasure. 
— He  was  willing  to  sacrifice  his  resentments  and  his  feel- 
ings for  the  public  good  ;  and  was  determined  to  be  govern- 
ed by  his  friends.  Consummate  duplicity !  The  prevail- 
ing sentiment  was,  that  the  measure  would  be,  in  a  political 
view,  highly  advantageous.  No  man  appeared  more  grati- 
fied with  the  prospect  of  success  than  William  W.  Gilbert ; 
and  all  who  spoke  of  it,  were  willing  to  make  an  effort  to 
accomplish  it.  The  company  retired  with  these  impres- 
sions, each  doubtless  complimenting  their  great  chief  on 
his  liberality  of  sentiment  and  disinterested  patriotism  ! 

To  comment  on  this  scene  of  duplicity  and  fraud  is  cer- 
tainly not  requisite.  If  the  adherents  of  Mr.  Clinton  are 
still  willing  to  remain  his  dupes,  they  have  no  right  to  com- 
plain, if  stigmatized  by  the  upright  and  independent  of  eve- 
ry party,  as  the  most  base  and  grovelling  panders  that  ever 
disgraced  any  country. 

Where  is  the  pride  of  William  W.  Gilbert?  And  where 
the  high  and  towering  spirit  which  once  glowed  in  the  bosom 
of  many  of  our  old  and  respectable  republicans  ?    In  short 


9 

where  is  the  man  in  the  party  who  does  not  feel  a  degree  of 
mortification  and  chagrin,  at  being  excluded  from  the  confi- 
dence of  h.s  leader,  while  such  men  as  Mr.  Riker  and  Mr. 
Van  Wvck  are  selected  to  decide  on  its  most  important  ar- 
rangements ? 

The  statement  which  I  have  given  will  account  for  the 
appointment  of  Mr.  Van  Wyck,  Recorder  of  the  City  of 
New-York,  and  the  unexampled  efforts  which  were  used  to 
procure  for  him  that  situation. 

Such,  sir,  has  been  your  duplicity  towards  your  friends. 
They  have  good  and  cogent  reasons  for  complaint.  The 
public  have  strong  claims  to  a  full  and  complete  knowledge 
of  this  transaction ;  because  it  serves  to  develope  an  impor- 
tant trait  in  your  character.  Whether  that  developement 
will  redound  to  your  honour  or  your  fame,  is  not  my  pro- 
vince to  decide.  It  is  a  question  I  refer  to  a  political  tribu- 
nal, trom  which  there  Is  no  appeal — the  voice  of  the  People. 
In  my  next  1  shall  detail  your  deportment,  your  language, 
and  your  promises,  to  the  friends  of  Col.  Burr,  at  the  house 
of  Gen.  Bailey,  on  the  evening  of  the  24th  January,  where 
you  met  them  by  appointment. 

MARCUS. 

N°.  V. 

TO  DE  WITT  CLINTON,  ES%. 

sir, 

I  HAVE  already  shown  that  the  fifth  article  of  the  trea- 
ty wras  complied  with  by  you.  So,  also,  was  the  second, 
which  relates  to  the  Editor  of  the  American  Citizen.  He 
adhered  to  his  orders  on  that  occasion,  when  menaced  with 
political  ruin  by  the  populace.  For  years  had  he  unceasing- 
ly vilified  not  only  Col.  Burr,  but  all  his  friends :  they  were 
charged  with  an  abandonment  of  principle ;  and  represent- 
ed as  the  most  vile  and  daring  faction  in  the  community. 
But  no  sooner  was  the  alliance  formed,  than  these  men  were 
complimented  and  panegyrized  for  their  eminent  services  as 
republicans,  and  their  inflexible  attachment  to  their  friend. 
With  this  servile  inconsistency  staring  him  in  the  face,  how 
can  Cheetham  prate  of  his  independence  of  sentiment?  It 
must  be  remembered,  he  has  published  to  the  worid,  that  both 
parties  kept  him  ignorant  of  their  arrangements ;  that  neither 
considered  him  entitled  to  their  confidence.    Why  should 


10 


they?  It  is  evident,  however,  that  both  conceived  they 
had  a  right  to  contract  for  him,  and  to  agree  between  them- 
selves what  he  should  and  what  he  should  not  publish. 
And  yet  this  man  talks  of  tools  and  hireling  Editors  ! 

You  will  pardon,  sir,  I  trust,  an  occasional  digression 
from  yourself,  when  you  perceive  that  my  attention  is  en- 
gaged by  your  chosen  friends,  and  most  intimate  associates. 

From  the  10th  until  th*  24th  of  January,  nothing  mate- 
rial, relative  to  the  Union,  transpired.  On  the  evening  of 
the  latter  day  it  was  agreed  you  should  again  meet,  at  the 
house  of  Gen.  Bailey,  some  of  Col.  Burr's  friends.  At  the 
appointed  hour  Col.  Swartwout,  Mr.  M.  L.  Davis,  and  Pe- 
ter Irving,  attended.  Shortly  after  they  were  seated,  Mr. 
Clinton's  name  was  announced.  He  entered  the  room,  to 
the  astonishment  of  the  congregated  Burrites,  accompanied 
by  Ezekiel  Robins.  This  gentleman  was  conspicuous  as 
an  advocate  of  Col.  Burr ;  but  he  had  not  been  apprised  by 
his  friends  of  the  reconciliation ;  they  were,  however,  em- 
barrassed. After  a  few  minutes  pause,  Mr.  Clinton  ex- 
plained. He  stated  that  he  had  considered  it  his  duty  to 
call  on  Mr.  Robins,  and  to  inform  him  of  the  happy  termi- 
nation of  the  contest  between  u  two  sections  of  the  Republi- 
can party  that  at  his  request,  Mr.  Robins  had  accompa- 
nied him  home,  from  whence  he  had  conveyed  him  in  his 
(Mr.  Clinton's)  carriage,  to  the  house  of  Gen.  Bailey. 
Such,  sir,  was  your  zeal,  at  the  commencement  of  this  cele- 
brated union,  to  convene  the  friends  of  Mr.  Burr,  and  to 
meet  them. 

At  this  meeting  your  deportment  was  frank  and  open ; 
and  if  I  am  not  much  deceived,  you  made  an  impression  on 
the  friends  of  Col.  Burr,  then  present,  that  you  were  sincere, 
and  that  your  future  conduct  would  be  correct  and  honour- 
able. You  ardently  expressed  your  wishes  for  a  perfect 
amalgamation  of  the  parties ;  and  in  promises  you  were  lavish. 
Burrites,  you  said,  must  be  sent,  at  the  next  spring  election, 
from  the  city  and  county  of  New-York,  to  the  State  Legis- 
lature. Mr.  Peter  Townsend  must  represent  Orange  coun- 
ty— Mr.  Joseph  Annin,  of  the  senate,  must  be  chosen  a 
member  of  the  Council  of  Appointment,  if  sufficient  interest 
could  be  made  for  him — Levi  M'Keen,  of  this  town,  should 
be  appointed  clerk,  in  the  room  of  Gilbert  Livingston,  whom 
you  would  remove  from  office.  To  detail  all  your  friendly 
assurances  at  this  meeting,  would  be  tedious  to  me,  mortify- 


\ 


11 

ing  to  you,  and  not  interesting  to  the  public.  Certain  it  is, 
that  your  ingenuity  and  talents  were  called  into  operation  to 
impress  the  Burrites  with  the  opinion  that  you  was  ardent, 
sincere,  and  determined  on  a  system  of  policy  that  should 
prove  gratifying  to  them,  and  flattering  to  Col.  Burr. 

There  is  one  circumstance  which  occurred  at  this  meet- 
ing, that  demands  my  notice,  and  the  most  sincere  animad- 
versions of  your  party.  With  respect  to  the  men  that  enjoy 
your  confidence,  it  is  decisive.  As  Mr.  Riker  would  say, 
"  It  puts  the  question  at  rest  for  ever." 

You  were  informed  that  the  friends  of  Col.  Burr  had  been 
in  the  habit  of  communicating  and  consulting  freely  with 
each  other  ;  that  they  believed  that  system  of  policy  most 
correct ;  and  you  were  asked  with  whom  of  your  party  they 
should  confer  during  your  absence,  if  events  should  require 
conference.  You  replied,  "  General  Bailey,  and  P.  C.  Van 
'  Wyck"  Yes,  sir,  these  were  the  men  selected  by  you  as  the 
leaders  of  the  republican  party,  and  the  guardians  of  that 
cause,  during  the  absence  of  Mr.  Riker  and  yourself.  These 
men  were  to  decide  on  the  measures  and  plans  proper  to  be 
adopted  and  pursued,  and  to  express  your  sentiments  and 
wishes  to  the  Burrites.  And  yet  your  deluded  followers 
have  had  the  temerity  to  assert  that  Gen.  Bailey  was  not  your 
authorized  agent.  Little,  very  little  do  they  know  of  your 
movements.  And  if  they  are  determined  to  remain  igno- 
rant :  if  they  will  not  read,  examine,  and  decide  for  them- 
selves, they  merit  such  leaders  as  Wortman,  Clinton,  and 
Cheetham  -r  and  may  they  long  feel  the  effects  of  their  sys- 
tem of  intolerance,  rebounding  upon  their  own  heads !  I 
forbear,  because  I  have  neither  time  nor  inclination  to  com- 
ment on  the  indignity  offered  to  the  republican  party,  in  se- 
lecting the  two  gentlemen  you  did,  as  the  proper  and  only 
persons  for  the  Burrites  to  confer  with,  when  arrangements 
were  necessary  to  be  made  with  a  view  to  the  approaching 
election,  or  on  any  other  political  subject. 

With  respect  to  the  proceedings  at  Dyde's  and  Martling's, 
I  shall  at  present  say  nothing.  The  public  had  not,  even 
there,  accurate  knowledge  of  the  movements  of  your  satel- 
lites. I  shall  now  notice  your  arch  and  jesuitical  letter  of 
the  3d  of  March,  dated  Albany,  and  addressed  to  Gen. 
Bailey,  with  the  prompt  and  honourable  answer  you  received 
from  Col.  Swartwout,  Peter  Irving,  and  M.  L.  Davis. — 
These  documents  are  before  me  ;  you  also  possess  them.  If 


12 


I  misrepresent,  publish  them  to  the  world :  they  will  confirm 
ever)'  sentence  I  utter,  and  they  will  decide  unchangeably 
your  political  doom. 

MARCUS. 

TO  DE  WITT  CLINTON,  ES%. 

SIR, 

I  KNOW  not  whether  contempt  or  indignation  is  the 
strongest  emotion  excited  in  my  bosom,  on  perusing  your 
letter  of  the  3d  of  March,  addressed  to  Gen.  Bailey  :  Con- 
tempt for  the  mean  and  hypocritical  manner  in  which  you 
endeavoured  to  screen  yourself  from  popular  odium — indig- 
nation for  your  false  and  ungentlemanly  indignities.  Nor 
could  I  comment  on  this  production  without  asperity,  or 
showing  temper,  if  my  mind  was  not  occasionally  diverted 
from  it  to  the  frank,  manly,  and  dignified  answer,  you  re- 
ceived from  Col.  Swartwout,  Peter  Irving,  and  M.  L. 
Davis. 

On  the  20th  of  February,  the  Burrites  and  Clintonians 
met  at  Dyde's,  and  partook  of  a  supper  prepared  for  the  oc- 
casion, and  which  has  since  been  termed  the  Union  supper. 
At  this  entertainment  a  number  of  toasts  were  drank  com- 
plimentary to  Col.  Burr  and  his  friends.  The  publication 
of  them  produced  considerable  agitation  in  the  Clintonian 
ranks.  The  flame  was  fanned  by  a  few  artful  and  designing 
men,  who  were  not  invited  to  the  festival,  and  were,  there- 
fore, disappointed  and  chagrined.  These  men,  in  connexion 
with  others  that  were  honest  in  their  views,  procured  a 
meeting  at  Martling's  on  the  evening  of  the  24th  February, 
where  some  violent  and  inflammatory  resolutions  were  pas- 
sed against  the  Union,  and  its  author.  You  perceived,  Sir, 
that  your  popularity  would  sustain  a  serious,  perhaps  an  ir- 
recoverable shock,  unless  you  could  completely  free  yourself 
from  the  appearance  of  having  any  knowledge  of  the  nego- 
ciations  on  the  subject  of  the  union.  To  effect  this,  and 
thus  save  from  nolitical  ruin  the  chief  of  the  faction,  it  was 
determined,  as  a  peace-offering,  to  sacrifice  Gen.  Bailey.—. 
With  this  view  your  letter  of  the  3d  of  March  was  written. 
You  intended  that  the  General  should  exhihibitit  to  the  dis- 
contented and  dissatisfied. 


13 


In  the  letter  alluded  to,  you  remark  that  you  approve  of 
the  proceedings  at  Martling's  ;  that  you  hope  the  imprudence 
of  your  friends  at  Dvde's  will  be  overlooked  ;  that  to  re- 
ceive the  Burrites,  is  "  universally  agreeable  jr  but  that  this 
reception  should  be  tainted  with  promises  of  office,  &c. 
would  be  ruin  to  your  cause.  You  add,  that  it  was  report- 
ed, a  treaty  had  been  formed,  consisting  of  five  articles,  one 
of  which  was,  that  Wm.  P.  Van  Ness  should  be  Secretary 
of  State  ;  and  another,  that  Col.  Burr  should  be  Governor, 
and  that  this  had  been  shown  to  Mr.  Eppes,  the  President's 
son-in-law.  You  close,  by  saving,  "  Prompt  and  efficient 
*'  measures  should  be  taken  to  contradict  these  infamous 
"  falsehoods.  Perhaps  the  most  proper  mode  would  be,  to 
"  require  frank  and  explicit  declarations  from  gentlemen  of 
*  the  Burr  party." 

This  letter  was  addressed  to  Gen.  Bailey.    Why  to  him? 
Because  throughout  the  whole  transaction,  he  was  your  agent, 
and  acted  under  your  control.    And  when  this  letter  was 
written,  you  presumed  he  would  understand  the  object.  Un- 
fortunately, however,  for  you,  the  General,  in  the  plenitude 
of  his  wisdom,  showed  it  to  the  three  gentlemen  already 
mentioned.    Their  prompt  and  energetic  answer  must  have 
been  very  unexpected.    Did  you,  Sir,  imagine,  when  you 
wrote  your  letter,  that  to  make  promises  to  the  Burrites 
would  be  ruin  to  your  cause  I   Or  did  you  intend  to  gull 
your  adherents,  through  your  agent,  Bailey,  into  a  belief  that 
you  had  made  no  promises  P    Your  design  evidently  was,  to 
produce  an  impression  that  no  promises  or  engagements 
had  been  made  by  you.    This  was  a  trick  of  perfidy  and 
deception ;  because  through  your  agent  you  made  all  the 
promises  enumerated  in  my  third  letter,  and  personally,  on 
the  24th  of  January,  you  promised,  if  possible,  to  make  Jo- 
seph Annin,  a  member  of  the  Council  of  Appointment ;  and 
positively  to  make  Levi  M4Keen,  Clerk  of  Dutchess,  in  the 
stead  of  Gilbert  Livingston,  whom  you  was  determined  to 
remove  from  office.    Deny  the  truth  of  these  assertions,  if 
in  any  point  of  view  they  are  incorrect.    They  were  made 
in  the  presence  of  Gen.  Bailey,  Ezekiel   Robins,  John 
Svvartwout,  M.  L.  Davis,  and  Peter  Irving.    I  repeat  it; 
these  gentlemen  were  all  present  when  you  promised,  pre- 
vious to  the  meeting  of  the  Legislature,  on  the  24th  Ja- 
nuary, the  offices  specified  ;  and  yet  according  to  your  hy- 
pocritical letter  of  the  3d  of  March,  to  make  promises, 
would  dishonour  and  ruin  your  party  ! 


14 


You  next  refer  to  a  treaty  which  had  been  shown  to  Mr. 
Eppes,  and  mention  only  two  of  five  articles,  it  is  said  to  con- 
tain. Were  the  other  three  correctly  stated  I  You  close 
your  letter  by  suggesting  the  propriety  of  frank  and  explicit 
explanations  from  gentlemen  of 'the  Burr  party.  Did  these 
gentlemen  afford  you  the  explanations  required  ?  And  were 
they  satisfactory  I  I  will  state,  as  briefly  as  possible,  the  sub- 
stance of  their  reply. 

They  admit  that  there  were  no  conditions  relative  to  Col. 
Burr,  or  Mr.  Van  Ness,  of  the  nature  mentioned  in  yours  of 
the  3d  March ;  and  add  that  the  reconciliation  was  "  on 
terms  of  perfect  equality.™  They  also  state  that  this  circum- 
stance was  within  your  own  knowledge.  How  within  your 
own  knowledge  ?  Because  your  agent,  Gen.  Bailey,  negoci- 
ated,  and  you  consummated  the  union. — They  then  proceed  to 
require,  in  return,  explanations  from  you,  on  certian  points, 
and  inform  you  that  their  intention  is  to  make  your  reply 
public,  u  with  a  view  to  obviate  erroneous  impressions." 

"  It  is  understood,  (say  they)  that  yon  and  your  friends 
"  countenance  areport,  that  the  exclusion  of  Mr  Burr  is  acon- 
"  dition  of  the  reconciliation.  We  have,  on  the  contrary, 
"  maintained  that  no  such  suggestion  was  made ;  that  no 
"  sentiment,  but  of  respect  for  Mr.  Burr,  was  expressed  by 
"  the  gentleman,  who  acted  in  behalf  of  your  party :  and 
"  that  in  the  early  stages  of  the  adjustment,  the  friends  of 
"  Mr.  Burr  pointedly  disclaimed  any  idea  of  the  kind." 
What  was  your  conduct  on  the  receipt  of  this  answer  ?  Did 
you  proceed  to  discuss  the  points  in  dispute,  or  to  defend 
the  position  you  had  taken  ?  No,  Sir,  after  inviting,  you 
shrunk  from  the  investigation.  You  know  that  the  exclusion 
of  - Mr.  Burr  was  never  contemplated  ;  that  his  friends  would 
have  spurned  at,  and  treated  with  disdain,  any  such  proposi- 
tion. You  knew  the  promises  you  had  made  on  the  24th  of 
January,  and  you  was  therefore  incapable  of  replying, 

Had  I  not  already  exceeded  the  limits  prescribed  to  my- 
self, I  should  say  much  more  on  this  subject,  but  I  fear  to 
prove  tedious.  If,  however,  I  have  misrepresented  your 
letter,  or  the  answer  you  received,  I  again  call  upon  you  to 
publish  them.  The  letter  of  Swartwout,  Irving,  and  Davis, 
does  them  great  honuor.  It  contains  some  independent  sen- 
timents, correctly  and  elegantly  expressed.  A  few  observa- 
tions more,  and  I  close  these  papers. 

MARCUS* 


vyrftr      N\  VII.  \         "    V*.^  * 

TO  DE  WITT  CLLYTO^,  ESQ. 

SIR, 

I  have  performed  the  task  which  I  imposed  upon  myself,  and 
I  trust  there  is  not  an  impartial,  or  disinterested  man,  in  the  state, 
who  peruses  these  letters  with  attention,  but  will  admit  that  I 
have  established  the  following  points. 

First— That  Gen.  Bailey  was  your  authorized  agent,  and  with 
your  knowledge  and  approbation  negociated,  and  entered  into 
stipulations  and  engagements  with  the  Burrites,  as  to  the  basis  of 
an  union. 

Secondly. — That  acting  as  your  agent  he  made  certain  pledges 
and  promises,  which  pledges  and  promises  were  immediately  per- 
formed by  you. 

Thirdly. — That  from  the  1 1th  January,  the  day  on  which  the 
negociations  were  terminated,  until  some  time  in  February,  you 
acted  towards  your  own  friends,  with  unprecedented  duplicity,  in- 
asmuch as  you  not  only  kept  them  ignorant  of  your  arrangement 
with  the  Burrites  and  your  meetings  with  Mr.  Swartwout,  but  in 
a  sportive  and  ungenerous  manner,  imposed  upon  their  credulity, 
causing  them  to  use  their  exertions  in  bringing  about  that  recon- 
ciliation which  you  had  previously  bargained  for,  and  consummated, 
and  thus  placing  them  before  the  Burrites  in  the  light  of  con- 
temptible tools. 

Fourthly. — That  you  excluded  from  your  confidence  every 
member  of  the  legislature,  Riker  excepted  ;  that  you  never  deign- 
ed to  consult  any  of  the  eld  and  experienced  republicans,  as  to 
the  propriety  or  policy  of  an  union  with  the  Burrites,  until  after 
that  union  was  formed ;  and  that  your  only  counsellors  and  advis- 
ers were,  Gen.  Bailey,  R.  Riker,  and  P.  C.  Van  Wyck. 

Fifthly. — That  you  displayed  great  zeal  to  satisfy  the  Burrites 
on  the  24th  January,  by  calling  on  Ezekiel  Robins,  one  of  their 
most  ardent  friends,  at  his  house,  conveying  jhim  to  yours, 
and  from  thence  to  Gen.  Bailey's,  in  your  own  carriage. 

Sixthly. — That  on  the  evening  of  the  24th  January,  at  the  house 
of  Gen.  Bailey,  in  the  presence  of  Jive  gentlemen  already  named, 
you  promised  to  put  into  the  council  of  appointment,  if  sufficient 
interest  could  be  made  for  him,  Joseph  Annin,  of  the  Western 
District ;  to  remove  from  office  the  late  Gilbert  Livingston,  and 
to  appoint  in  his  stead,  Levi  M'Keen. 

Seventhly. — That  on  the  aforementioned  evening  you  were 
asked,  bv  the  friends  of  Col.  Burr,  with  whom  thev  could  confi- 
dentially  communicate,  if  communications  were  necessary  on  the 
subject  of  the  approaching  election,  or  any  other  political  busi- 
ness^  during  your  absence,  and  you  referred  them  to  Gen.  Bailey, 
and  P.-C.  Van  Wyck,  as  your  confidential  friends,  thus  excluding^ 
the  whole  of  that  party,  of  which  you  are  considered  the  leader. 


16 


Eighthly. — That  on  the  3d  of  March,  you  addressed  a  letter  to  Ge». 
Bailey,  fraught  with  perfidy  to  the  Burrites,  and  duplicity  to  your  own 
friends, — attempting %0  make  the  tatter  beieve  you  were  ignorant  of  the 
negotiations  with  the  friends  of  Col.  Burr,  whereas  you  had  personal  inter- 
views with  them,  and  had  beribnaUy  made  them  promise*. 

Ainthkjj — That  in  this  ietter  you  invited  frank  and  explicit  explanations 
on  the  subject  from  gentlemen  of  the  Burr  party,  and  thus  insinuated  that 
you  were  ready  to  give  them. 

Tenthly. — That  your  letter  was  promptly  and  explicitly  answered  on  the 
12th  March,  by  Col.  Swartwout,  Peter  Irving,  and  M.  L.  Davis,  who  re- 
quested from  you  explanations  as  to  certain  reports  said  to  be  countenanced, 
by  you,  informing,  that  it  was  their  intention  to  make  your  letter  public, 
"  with  a  vrezo  te  remove  erroneo"s  impressions  tr.at  after  seeking  this  inves- 
tigation, you  shrank  from  the  contest,  and  never  dared  to  commit  yourself 
in  reply,  knowing  that  such  committal  must  inevitably  invoive  you  in  an 
awkward  dilemma. 

Some  inquiries  will  possibly  be  made,  how  an  ob  cure  individual  should 
possess  an  accurate  knowledge  of  all  the  facts  contained  in  tbejse  letters? 
I  answer,  that  during  the  whole  of  the  negotiation,  two  Burrites  of  respectabi- 
lity, from  the  Western  District,  were  in  the  city  of  New-York,  and  con- 
sulted as  to  every  measure  adopted  by  Col.  Swartwout.  With  both  these 
gentlemen  I  have  conversed  freely.  From  Levi  M'Keen  I  revived  a  part 
of  my  information,  and  from  gentlemen  in  New -York,  other  details.  In 
short,  my  authorities,  I  am  perfectly  satisfied,  are,  in  every  particular, 
correct.  But  in  most  instances  I  have  made  references.  If  I  have  unsta- 
ted any  facts,  where  I  have  l-eferred  to  particular  gentlemen,  1  call  upon 
those  gentlemen,  as  men  of  honour,  as  tin  guardians  of  truth,  and  as  the 
enemies  of  defamation,  to  point  out  my  errors  and  to  correct  them.  I  may 
be  assailed  by  the  envenomed  shafts  of  party  slanderers,  hut  I  shall  disre^ 
gard  them.  Neither  my  avocations  nor  my  disposition  would  justify  a  long 
and  tedious  controversy. 

Believing  that  I  have  comp'etely  estab'ished  the  point  -  above  enumerated, 
it  remains  for  the  people  to  decide  between  us  I  well  know,  Sir,  in  this- 
attack,  the  disadvantages  under  which  I  labour.  I  am  willing  to  admit 
their  force  ;  and  I  have  only  to  regret  that  our  countrymen,  in  similar  ca- 
ses, are  not  more  frequently  influenced  by  the  objections  which  will  be 
urged  against  me. 

It  will  be  said,  Marcus  is  an  anonymous  writer,  unknown  to  the  public,, 
perhaps  influenced  by  a  spirit  of  revenge,  and  regardless  of  truth  :  And  it 
will  be  added,  Mr.  C  inton  is  the  leader  of  a  party,  high  in  their  confideucer 
and  possessing  their  esteem.  These,  with  many  other  arguments,  will  be 
urged  by  your  adherents.  They  are  reasonable,  and  deserve  the  most 
mature  and  deliberate  consideration  of  the  people.  But  they  deserve  it  in 
a  pre-eminent  degree,  at  this  crisis,  when  the  press  is  unbiusiiingly  prosti- 
tuted to  the  vilest  purposes  ;  when  the  most  spotless'characters  in  society, 
are  unfeelingly  torn  and  lacerated  to  accomplish  party  views;  and  when  pub- 
lic taste  seems  so  corrupted  and  vitiated,  that  nothing  but  the  lowest  slanders 
are  palatable.  I  ask  only  a  dispassionate  and  calm  decision.  If  the  facts  I 
have  stated  are  not  well  established  ;  if  a  doubt  remains  on  the  mind  of 
any  man — then  would  Marcus,  who  knows  your  guilt,  p'ead  with  that  man 
for  your  acquittal.  I  repeat  it,  our  countrymen  are  too  prone  to  listen  to 
the  voice  of  defamation,  and  too  willing  to  sacrifice  our  best  and  most  use- 
ful patriots  on  presumptive  evidence.  But  if  on  the  other  hand,  the 
charges  I  have  made  against  you  are  well  supported,  and  you  appear  to 
them  guilty  of  duplicity  and  treachery,  it  is  their  duty  to  pass  upon  you  a 
stern,  but  just  sentence.  I  have  only  to  say  to  them,  "  See  that  what  thou 
receivest  as  truth,  be  not  the  shadow  of  it;  what  thou  acknowledgest  a» 
convincing,  is  too  often  but  plausible. — Be  firm,  be  constant,  determine 
for  thyself  j  so  shalt  thou  be  answerable  onlv  for  thine  own  weakness." 

MARCUS. 


